The King's Queen

Chapter 17

"I arranged them myself," I added proudly. "I hope you like them."

"I suppose they'll do," she grumbled.

"Those yellow ones are her favorite," Micah pointed out. "She loves them."

"You parrot!" She scolded him. "Since when did I ask you to translate for me?"

"You're welcome, Esmeralda," I giggled and she huffed.

"I'll put these in a vase and bring you something to drink. Look how pale you are. They must be freezing you half to death in that palace."

I sat down on the sofa beside Micah but Garrett and Violet remained standing by the door. Esmeralda came back a few minutes later with a tray and Micah went over to help her but she bumped him out of the way with her hip. "Sit down, child. Help me all you want after your wrist gets better."

Micah sighed and sat beside me. I turned to him in concern. "What happened to your wrist?"

"I'm fine really," he muttered. "Esmeralda is making a big deal out of nothing."

Esmeralda handed me a cup of coffee and glared at Micah. "I am not!" She turned to me with a scowl. "Listen to me, human mate, I'm sure someone hurt him earlier. He was quite fine yesterday and he thinks I haven't noticed how he winces when he takes up anything heavy. These eyes of mine see everything," she reminded him.

She stalked over to my guards with two mugs. They politely refused but Esmeralda told them to either take the coffee or give her back her beans because she didn't waste things in her house and neither would they. She was only half their height, but she gave them a stern look and they smartly took the coffee and told her thank you. Esmeralda had successfully managed to overrule my bodyguards, not bad.

I turned my attention back to Micah and held out my hand. "Let me see."

"It's fi-"

"Show her your wrist, child!" Esmeralda shouted and he winced. "She says she's going to be a doctor so let her put herself to use. She'd better not be a quack," she mumbled.

I couldn't help but laugh at the last part and Micah hesitantly rested his hand in mine. I examined his wrist a bit. His wrist was tender and swollen and just a bit stiff. Just as I'd thought...

"Looks like a first degree sprain to me," I murmured.

"A sprain?!" Esmeralda's eyes widened in alarm and she fumbled to catch the tray she nearly dropped. "Human mate, are you sure?"

"Yes, but it's mild-"

"Mild my backside!" She raised her brows at Micah. "How did this happen?"

He frowned at the carpet, his eyes troubled. Then, he finally mumbled, "I fell after work. It happens sometimes when the ground's icy."

We stared at him, unconvinced.

"He's lying," Garrett spoke up from his spot. His amber eyes were glued to Micah. "I can tell. That wasn't from an accident. Who did this to you, kid?"

"I already told you that-"

"Not buying it." He held a hand up to stop Micah's protest. "I've been in my fair share of fights when I was younger. It's not hard for me to figure out when somebody's being bullied. You're an Origen for crying out loud. Please tell me you didn't let some humans manhandle you."

"It wasn't humans," Micah protested and then his eyes went wide as he realized that he just admitted to being bullied.

"There's that good old truth we love. Now fess up."